DIY Spring Cleaning for Your Car

Springtime is a wonderful time of year! A favorite season for many, it is usually full of green leaves, blooming flowers, chirping birds, buzzing bees, and, for some reason, cleaning products. You guessed it, it’s that time of year again; spring cleaning!

While you clear out your closet and scrub your floors, don’t forget about your vehicle. I’m sure that cleaning the car isn’t on most spring cleaning lists, by why shouldn’t it be? Considering that most people use their vehicle every day, it’s safe to say we all spend a lot of time there. Shouldn’t your car be just as clean as the other important places you spend time? We sure think so, which is why we’ve put together a spring cleaning checklist for your car:

Spring Cleaning the Interior

The first thing you’ll want to do is empty it out. Grab 2 empty bags; one for trash, one for taking things inside. Once you’ve cleaned everything out of your car, make sure to place items where they go and dispose of trash.

Now that your car is clean, remove your floor mats and shake them out. If they are rubber, you can clean them with warm soapy water. Let them dry while you finish.

Use a microfiber towel or an appropriate wet wipe to wipe the hard surfaces in your car, including the dash, door panels, air vents, radio, cup holders, gear shift, and steering wheel.

Vacuum time! Use the attachments that come with your vacuum to get to every inch of your car. Be thorough.

Lastly, clean the insides of all windows.

Spring Cleaning the Exterior

Find a good spot to wash, preferably in the shade. Grab your favorite car washing detergent and a get bucket of soapy water going. Wash the car starting at the top and working your way down and around. Change the water when it gets dirty. Don’t forget your tires and rims.

Clean the outside of the windows, including the side mirrors.

Dry the entire vehicle with a chamois or microfiber cloth to avoid streaks.

If you’d like to go the extra mile, apply a wax to keep your car clean and shiny longer.

Organizing Your Car

Have a place for trash to go in your car. That way, if something needs to be thrown away there is a place for it instead of letting it clutter up your car.

Make sure that you find a place for any loose items in your vehicle. Loose items are not only dangerous, they can be distracting. Baskets, bins, and multi-slot hanging organizers all work well.

Make sure that your glove box contains all of your important documentation and that it is easy to access.

Maintaining Your Car

Now that your car is clean, you simply have to maintain it. Take a picture of it clean, then pick a day of the week to make sure it gets back to that point.

Set a car wash schedule and make sure you stick to it. If you clean it regularly, it won’t need such a deep cleaning next time.

Do maintenance checks on your windshield, wipers, tires, and lights. If anything needs replacing, take care of it quickly to get it out of the way and ensure you are driving as safely as possible.

Once you have completed all of these steps, your car will be officially clean for spring. While you are out on the road in your newly sparkling vehicle, please make sure that you remember to stay alert, drive defensively, and make safe decisions. We want you to enjoy driving around in your clean car for as long as you can!